were grown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were grown" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the passive voice to indicate that something was cultivated or developed, often referring to plants or crops. Example: "The vegetables were grown in the community garden, providing fresh produce for local families."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were grown adults.

The New York Times

His kids were grown.

The New Yorker

Her own children were grown.

The New Yorker

Her two sons were grown now.

The New Yorker

Thin film samples were grown via d.c.

Nature

Liquid cultures were grown at 200 rpm.

Nature

"They weren't teenagers; they were grown men.

The Guardian

Cells were grown as described above.

Nature

Cells were grown by J.A.-B.

Nature

The cultures were grown in 2 L.

Nature

What foods were grown?

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were grown" in scientific writing, specify the conditions under which the subjects were cultivated to provide context for the experimental results.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "were grown" if the actor is known and relevant. Using the active voice can make your writing more direct and engaging. For example, instead of "The plants were grown by the students", consider "The students grew the plants".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were grown" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence underwent a process of cultivation or development. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and common. Examples show it applying to plants, cells, and even crystals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

64%

News & Media

34%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were grown" is a grammatically sound passive construction widely used to describe the cultivation or development of something. As Ludwig AI indicates, its usage is correct, especially within scientific and news-related contexts. While the active voice may sometimes be more direct, "were grown" is particularly effective when the process is more important than the actor. Remember to tailor your usage to the specific context and audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been cultivated

Replaces the passive voice with a past perfect passive, emphasizing completion.

were cultivated

Emphasizes careful development and refinement.

were raised

Focuses on the process of nurturing and bringing something to maturity.

were developed

Implies a process of gradual advancement or evolution.

were produced

Highlights the act of creation or manufacturing.

were generated

Focuses on the creation or origination of something.

were brought up

Suggests nurturing and education during upbringing.

were propagated

Highlights the act of spreading or multiplying, particularly in botany.

were brought into being

Emphasizes the creation or existence of something.

had their origins

Shifts the focus to the starting point or source of something.

FAQs

How can I use "were grown" in a sentence?

The phrase "were grown" is typically used in the passive voice to describe something that was cultivated or developed. For example, "The tomatoes "were grown" in the greenhouse" or "The crystals "were grown" under controlled conditions".

What are some alternatives to "were grown"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "were cultivated", "were raised", "were produced", or "were developed".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were grown"?

While "were grown" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can sometimes make your writing more direct. For instance, instead of "The plants "were grown" by the farmer", you could say "The farmer grew the plants".

What's the difference between "were grown" and "had been grown"?

"Were grown" describes a past action, while "had been grown" describes an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "The vegetables "were grown" last summer" versus "The vegetables that "had been grown" were harvested in the fall".